Q：“外交部发言人办公室”消息，在12月29日外交部例行记者会上，总台央广记者提问：2023年，习近平主席出访足迹遍及亚洲、非洲、欧洲、美洲，在国内接待了许多国家领导人来访，主持了第三届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛等一系列重大主场外交活动。请问元首外交为中国特色大国外交发挥了怎样的引领作用？
A：毛宁：今年，在元首外交的战略引领下，中国特色大国外交踏上新征程，谱写了精彩纷呈的新篇章。
一是促进了大国关系发展。习近平主席访问俄罗斯拉开今年元首出访外交帷幕，中俄元首进行长时间真挚友好、富有成果的会谈交流，擘画中俄关系发展蓝图。习近平主席应邀赴美举行中美元首旧金山会晤，就事关中美关系的战略性、全局性、方向性问题以及事关世界和平与发展的重大问题交换意见，推动中美关系稳下来、好起来。习近平主席先后同法国总统和欧盟领导人举行会晤，就中法、中欧关系以及共同关心的国际地区问题深入交换意见，达成重要共识。
二是深化了同周边和发展中国家的团结合作。在西安，习近平主席主持中国—中亚峰会，各方宣布构建更加紧密的中国—中亚命运共同体。在约翰内斯堡，习近平主席出席金砖国家领导人第十五次会晤，推动金砖扩员迈出历史性步伐，并同南非总统共同主持中非领导人对话会，以实际行动体现中国永远同非洲国家站在一起。在北京，习近平主席在第三届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛上宣布中国支持高质量共建“一带一路”八项行动，助力发展中国家加快迈向现代化。在河内，习近平总书记、国家主席同越南领导人就携手构建具有战略意义的中越命运共同体达成重要共识，又一次生动诠释了亲诚惠容周边外交理念。
三是为解决热点问题贡献了中国智慧。根据习近平主席同沙特、伊朗两国领导人达成的共识，在中方支持和推动下，沙伊双方达成具有历史意义的复交协议。为推动政治解决乌克兰危机，习近平主席同有关各方领导人保持沟通，劝和促谈。本轮巴以冲突爆发以来，习近平主席多次阐明中国原则立场，并出席金砖国家领导人特别视频峰会，呼吁立即停火止战，推动巴勒斯坦问题在“两国方案”基础上早日得到全面、公正、持久解决。
四是夯实了友好合作的民意基础。习近平主席亲自讲述中国故事，广交天下朋友。今年以来，习近平主席会见了基辛格、比尔·盖茨等多位美国朋友，在旧金山同多年来结识的美国各界友好人士亲切交流，并面向美国人民发表历史性的旧金山演讲。习近平主席还多次同各国友好人士通信，用一封封书信连接起真挚情谊，展现了平易近人、重情尚义的领袖风范，赢得了全世界的尊重与友谊。
习近平主席曾说，“走四方固然辛苦，但收获是‘朋友圈’越来越大”。2023年中国元首外交亮点纷呈，让我们期待明年的华彩篇章。
Q:CNR: This year, President Xi Jinping visited Asia, Africa, Europe and America, received leaders from many countries in China, and chaired the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and other major home-ground diplomatic events. How does China's head-of-state diplomacy guide its major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics?
A:Mao Ning: Under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics embarked on a new journey and has written a splendid new chapter in 2023.
First, China has advanced major-country relations. This year's head-of-state overseas visits kicked off with President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia. The Chinese and Russian presidents had long, sincere, friendly, and fruitful talks and exchanges, and drew up a blueprint for the growth of China-Russia relations. President Xi was invited to hold the China-US summit meeting in San Francisco. The two sides had an exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-US relations and on major issues affecting world peace and development to stabilize and improve the bilateral relations. President Xi had meetings with French president and EU leaders. They exchanged views and reached important common understandings on China-France relations, China-EU relations, and regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Second, China has enhanced solidarity and cooperation with neighbors and developing countries. In Xi'an, President Xi chaired the China-Central Asia Summit, where all parties jointly announced that they will build a closer China-Central Asia Community with a shared future. In Johannesburg, President Xi attended the 15th BRICS Summit, where BRICS expansion made a historic step forward. He co-chaired with South African President the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue, which demonstrated through concrete action that China and African countries will forever stand shoulder to shoulder. In Beijing, President Xi announced eight major steps China will take to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation at the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to help developing countries speed up the process of modernization. In Hanoi, General Secretary and President Xi reached important common understandings with Vietnamese leaders to build a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. It is another vivid illustration of the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy.
Third, China contributed its wisdom to the settlement of hotspot issues. Based on the common understanding reached by President Xi and Saudi and Iranian leaders and with China's support and facilitation, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a historic agreement to resume diplomatic ties. To facilitate the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, President Xi maintained communication with leaders from relevant parties to promote peace talks. Since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict, President Xi has outlined China's principled position on multiple occasions. At the Extraordinary Joint Meeting of BRICS Leaders, he called for an immediate ceasefire and efforts for an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just, sustainable and based on the two-state solution.
Fourth, China has consolidated public foundation for friendly cooperation. President Xi Jinping personally reached out to the world to tell China's stories and make friends across the globe. Earlier this year, President Xi met with Henry Kissinger, Bill Gates and several other US friends, had cordial conversations with old friends from various sectors of the US in San Francisco, and delivered a historic speech to the American public while he was there. He also exchanged correspondence with friends from various countries. The letters conveyed messages of goodwill. It showed the character of a statesman who has a common touch and values the bond with the people. This has won respect and friendship from the world.
President Xi Jinping once noted, "It's hard work to travel all over the world, but we've made more and more friends because of it. This is our reward." As we conclude 2023 with numerous highlights in head-of-state diplomacy, let us look forward to next year.
Mao Ning:As we conclude 2023 with numerous highlights in head-of-state diplomacy
